GENEVA, Ohio/ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The University of Michigan men's track and field team competed in the SPIRE Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 15), while senior Erick Gavin (Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic) also represented the Maize and Blue on the second day of the Don Kirby Invitational at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

Gavin competed in Section B of the 60-meter hurdles in New Mexico, where he advanced to the finals with a prelim time of 8.14 and eventually took fourth in the finals with a personal-best time of 7.99.

At the SPIRE Invitational, fifth-year senior Bradley James(East Lansing, Mich./Haslett) highlighted action in the field, placing third in the high jump with a season-best leap of 2.08 meters (6-9.75). Meanwhile, sophomore Stephen Sykes(Litchfield, Mich./Litchfield) notched a new personal best of 2.03 meters (6-8) to secure eighth place in the high jump.

Michigan shot putters junior/sophomore Derek Sievers(Byron Center, Mich./Byron Center) and senior/junior Justin Gaumer(Holly, Mich./Holly) each used new personal-best marks to record top-10 finishes. Sievers took sixth place with a toss of 18.06 meters (59-3), while Gaumer's heave of 17.05 meters (55-11.25) was good enough for ninth place.

Junior/sophomore Codie Nolan(Morenci, Mich./Adrian) represented the Wolverines in the 60-meter dash finals after running 6.95 in the prelims. In the finals, he clocked a career-best time of 6.91 to finish seventh overall.

In the 800-meter run, sophomore Nate Chapman(Auburn Hills, Mich./Avondale) (1:52.47) and junior Ben Reed(Hemlock, Mich./Midland) (1:52.65) crossed the line just .18 seconds apart to take seventh and ninth place, respectively.

U-M will compete in one final tune-up meet when it hosts the annual Silverston Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 22), before the Wolverines make a return trip to the SPIRE Institute for the 2014 Big Ten Indoor Championships on Feb. 28-March 1.

Michigan Head Coach Jerry ClaytonOn the split-squad weekend ... "I thought we accomplished the things we set out to do at these three meets. We had guys PR and perform well in a lot of different events at SPIRE, which is what we needed. I thought one of the best PRs of the weekend was Derek Sievers in the shot put. And then Stephen Sykes took a pretty big step in the high jump with his PR. I thought at Washington, we accomplished a lot of positive things that we wanted to see there to move forward going into Big Tens. Things went pretty well here in Albuquerque. Of course Herman (Washington) had a little trouble negotiation that second hurdle and didn't finish, but those things happen in that event and he'll be fine. Erick (Gavin) had a PR in the hurdles, which was great to see. It was a good effort and a great way to go into the Big Ten meet."

On next weekend's Silverston Invitational at home ... "I think we will probably compete more people next weekend than what I'm used to. But because of the situation were in indoors, I think some of them need an additional meet. We'll be selective and pick the guys who we feel need another meet before Big Tens. I think some of the power events like the jumps, sprints and throws will continue to compete."